One Direction’s Liam Payne opted for a close haircut two months ago – which some thought was in response to his split from girlfriend Danielle Peazer – but the singer tells Access Hollywood he was hoping to look like his mentor.

Access caught up with Liam and the rest of the 1D guys on Thursday night at “The X Factor” elimination show in Los Angeles, where they performed and were reunited with Simon Cowell, who discovered the singers on the British “X Factor.”

“We just saw [Simon] and he was happy with the performance and he was singing along,” Liam told Access. “It was really good [and] good to see him.”

As for his short ‘do, Liam explained that Simon was his inspiration.

”[I’m] trying to look like Simon,” he joked when asked about his hair.

Liam also weighed in when asked about any tips they had for contestants on the FOX reality singing competition.

“The best advice that we can give is just enjoy yourself, have fun,” he explained. “That is what we do every single day.”